NASA is developing a cutting-edge drone that could revolutionize wildfire response, enabling round-the-clock aerial firefighting and saving lives.
Currently, wildfires can only be tackled from the air during daylight. But this new technology could help firefighters continue the battle against fast-spreading wildfires even after nightfall.
“We’re aiming to provide new tools – including airspace management technologies – for 24-hour drone operations for wildfire response,” said Min Xue, project manager of the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate told SciTech Daily.
“This testing will provide valuable data to inform how we mature this technology for eventual use in the field.”
NASA’s Portable Airspace Management System – or PAMS for short – is a suitcase-sized unit. PAMS helps drone pilots avoid collisions, share flight plans, and maintain communication without the need for internet access – useful in remote locations where wildfires can start.
The NASA-developed software also allows pilots to monitor and share flight plans with other aircraft in the network, providing basic fire location and weather information.
And after testing, the results have proved promising.
In one test, the PAMS units successfully alerted pilots to conflicting flight plans and operations outside preapproved zones.
“This testing is a significant step towards improving aerial coordination during a wildfire,” Xue said.
“These technologies will improve wildfire operations, reduce the impacts of large wildfires, and save more lives.”
This year, the team will conduct a flight evaluation to further refine the tech, with the ultimate goal of transferring them to the firefighting community.
